Failing to update your address can result in missed bills, identity fraud, DVLA penalties and lost correspondence. This checklist covers every organisation you need to notify — from government bodies to streaming services.
Before anything else, set up a Royal Mail postal redirect. This catches any mail sent to your old address and forwards it to your new one — giving you a safety net while you work through the full list.
| Duration | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | £37.99 | Short-term safety net |
| 6 months | £56.99 | Most movers — recommended |
| 12 months | £83.99 | Maximum protection |
These are the most important — failure to update government records can result in fines, lost benefits, or voting issues.
| Organisation | How to Update | Time to Act | Cost / Fine Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| DVLA (driving licence) | gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence | ASAP — within days | Free / up to £1,000 fine |
| DVLA (vehicle registration V5C) | Post section 6 of V5C logbook | ASAP | Free / affects tax & insurance |
| HMRC | Personal tax account / 0300 200 3300 | Within 30 days | Free / missed tax letters |
| Electoral roll | gov.uk/register-to-vote | Before next election | Free / affects credit score |
| DWP / Universal Credit | Journal message or Jobcentre | Day of move | May affect benefit amount |
| Council Tax | Old and new local council | Day of move | Free / billing errors |
| Passport | Doesn't need updating — just note new address | N/A | No action needed |
| Child Benefit | HMRC child benefit online | ASAP | Payment disruption risk |
| Student loans / SLC | studentloans.co.uk account | Within 30 days | Free |
| TV Licence | tvlicensing.co.uk | On or before moving day | £169.50/yr if missed |
| Organisation | How to Update | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Bank / building society (all accounts) | Mobile app / online banking | 🔴 High |
| Credit cards | Each provider's app or online portal | 🔴 High |
| Mortgage provider | Phone or portal — confirm new property address | 🔴 High |
| ISAs / savings accounts | Online or via branch | 🟠 Medium |
| Workplace pension | HR or pension provider portal | 🟠 Medium |
| Private pension / SIPP | Provider's customer portal | 🟠 Medium |
| PayPal / Apple Pay / Google Pay | App settings | 🟡 Low |
| Investments / ISA platforms (Vanguard, Hargreaves Lansdown, etc.) | Secure message or account settings | 🟠 Medium |
| Service | Action Required | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Gas & electricity | Take meter readings, give final reading to old supplier, set up new account | Moving day |
| Water | Notify regional water company (usually automatic but worth confirming) | Within 1 week |
| Broadband / phone | Give 30-day notice to cancel or transfer; set up new connection early | 4–6 weeks before |
| Mobile phone network | Update billing address in account settings | Before next bill |
| Home insurance | Cancel old policy; new policy must be in place on completion day | Completion day |
| Contents insurance | Cancel or transfer — ensure new home is covered | Moving day |
| Car insurance | Notify insurer of address change — can affect premium | ASAP |
| Sky / Virgin / BT TV | Notify and arrange engineer visit at new address | 2–4 weeks before |
| Service | Action | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| GP surgery | Register with new GP; request records transfer | Within 2 weeks |
| NHS dentist | Register with new dentist near your new home | Within 1 month |
| Optician | Update contact details with current optician | Within 1 month |
| NHS prescriptions / repeat prescriptions | Transfer prescription to new pharmacy if needed | Before you run out |
| Private health insurance | Update address via provider portal or phone | Within 2 weeks |
| Organisation | Action |
|---|---|
| Employer / HR | Update payroll address for P60, P45, payslips |
| Schools / nurseries | Notify current school; apply to new schools in new catchment area |
| Universities / colleges | Update via student records portal |
| Professional bodies (e.g. Law Society, RICS, BMA) | Update via member portal |
| Trade unions | Update via membership portal or phone |
| Service | How to Update |
|---|---|
| Amazon (billing & delivery addresses) | Account > Addresses |
| Online shopping (ASOS, Argos, John Lewis, etc.) | Account settings on each site |
| Subscription boxes (HelloFresh, Graze, etc.) | Account settings — pause delivery to avoid missed boxes |
| Gym membership | Reception desk or app — check if you need to transfer gym |
| Clubs & loyalty cards (Tesco Clubcard, Boots, Nectar) | App or website account settings |
| Magazine / newspaper subscriptions | Email or phone publisher |
| eBay, Etsy, Vinted — selling accounts | Account settings — update return address |
No — your home address is not printed on a UK passport, so there is no requirement to update it. Your driving licence, however, must show your current address and must be updated.
As soon as possible — there is no strict legal deadline, but the DVLA can issue a fine of up to £1,000 for having incorrect details on a driving licence. It is free to update online at gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence.
Yes — car insurance premiums are heavily location-dependent. Moving to a lower-crime area or somewhere with less traffic may reduce your premium. Moving to an urban area could increase it. You must notify your insurer — failure to do so can invalidate your policy.
Yes — being registered to vote at your current address is one of the key factors used by credit reference agencies to verify your identity. Not being on the electoral roll at your new address can cause credit applications to fail or return lower scores.
There is no single service that updates all organisations at once. The government's Tell Us Once service notifies some government departments when someone dies but does not cover address changes. You must update each organisation individually — which is why a Royal Mail redirect is so important as a backup.